Augusta, GA

Community members honor shooting victims with prayer vigils

Published

2 years ago

May 7, 2024

Community members honor shooting victims with prayer vigils

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Community members are coming together to pray for Augusta’s latest shooting victims.

The Richmond County coroner says 22-year-old Jaleen Sumpter died Sunday night on C Street in Olmstead Homes and another person was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg.

And just last week, 14-year-old Anthony Harrison died in a shooting at the Cedarwood Apartments.

Violence has impacted too many people in our area, taking loved ones and turning lives upside down.

Now, people in our community say it’s time for a change.

Two shootings in one week add to the violent outbreak of crime that’s taken over 150 lives in the last two years.

“We had the first killing in Cedarwood and when that happened, I said, ‘Okay, God, let’s go.’ And I called the troops. I called some men of God and women of God who really, I know care about the community. Because we got hearts for the people, you want to bring people around and get people involved who care,” said Terrell Lynn, who held the prayer vigils.

He says it’s time for a change, after the shooting at Cedarwood Apartments they gathered, praying for violence to end.

“It’s very important for these young people to see somebody from where they’re from, did the same thing that they were doing, that made it out and telling them that, hey, it’s better for you that this is not the end,” he said.

But another shooting took place at Olmstead Homes, bringing them back together and praying for the community.

“There are many that are responded to be mentors and to be established in these communities. And this isn’t just, I’m gonna pray and that’s it, we’re gonna pray, we’re gonna get a presence out here. We’re going to talk to the community, talk with the kids, work with the kids. This is not a one-time thing,” said Lynn.

They say it’s time for the community to step up.

“I invite anybody, anybody from your community, any man who wants to come and say, ‘Hey, I’m not gonna let this happen in my city, I’m not just gonna be here, sit here and let this happen without doing anything.’ I invite you to come out here and take a stand,” he said.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident

Published

11 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident | News | wfxg.com

We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which
enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time.

For any issues, contact enews@wfxg.com or call 706-650-5400.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

Published

23 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.

Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Campaign priorities

Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.

“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”

Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.

It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”

The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.

The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.

A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.

He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.

The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.

The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.

The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.